3 Stocks Rising With Unusual Volume - views

WINDERMERE, Fla. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

Rovi (ROVI) focuses on powering the discovery and enjoyment of digital entertainment by providing a broad set of integrated solutions. This stock is trading up 10.8% at $15.99 in recent trading.

Today's Volume: 2.07 million

Average Volume: 1.32 million

Volume % Change: 172%

Shares of ROVI are soaring today after the company reported third quarter revenue and profit that easily beat consensus estimates, and projected the full year's results higher as well.

From a technical perspective, ROVI is gapping higher up here with monster volume. This move has sent the stock back above its 50-day moving average of $14.77 and above some near-term overhead resistance at $14.70. This action is quickly pushing ROVI within range of triggering another major breakout trade. That trade will hit once ROVI manages to take out some past overhead resistance at $16.91 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ROVI as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $14.77, and then once it sustains a move or close above $16.91 with volume that hits near or above 1.32 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ROVI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $18 to $20.

Magnachip Semiconductor

Magnachip Semiconductor (MX) is a designer and manufacturer of analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products for consumer applications. This stock is trading up 5.6% at $12.88 in recent trading.

Today's Volume: 259,000

Average Volume: 127,179

Volume % Change: 242%

Shares of MX are jumping higher today after the company beat Wall Street estimates by 20 cents per share and reported in-line revenue of $221.9 million, or a 9.5% increase from the second quarter of this year.

From a technical perspective, MX is gapping higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $12.61 with above-average volume. This move is quickly pushing MX within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit once MX manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $14 to $14.42 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MX as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $12.61, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 127.179 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then MX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $15 to $15.56.

BRE Properties

BRE Properties (BRE) is a self-administered real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and management of multifamily apartment communities in the Western United States. This stock is trading up 1% at $50.63 in recent trading.

Today's Volume: 809,000

Average Volume: 584,564

Volume % Change: 246%

From a technical perspective, BRE is moving modestly higher here with above-average volume. This move has started to push BRE into breakout territory, since the stock is flirting with some near-term overhead resistance at $50.58 to $51.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BRE as long as it's trending above $50.58 to $51 with strong upside volume flows. I would consider any upside volume day that registers near or above 584,564 shares as bullish. If BRE can maintain that trend, then it will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $52.50 to $52.90. Any high-volume move above $52.90 should be considered bullish, since it will push BRE into new 52-week high territory.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Windermere, Fla., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.